Efficient use of the radio spectrum

• US 8,134,949 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ruuska, Paivi M., Palin, Arto, Reunamaki, Jukka, Juntunen, Juha O., Kalliola, Kimmo H. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/604,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/518, 455/552.1, 455/434, 455/557, 455/556.1, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication device including a receiver for receiving information via a first radio protocol directly from a first communication device concerning at least a second radio protocol; and a controller for controlling communication of the communication device in dependence upon the received information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive information via a first radio protocol directly from a first communication device concerning at least a second radio protocol capability of a second communication device, wherein the apparatus is external to the first and second communication devices, wherein the first and second communication devices are external to the apparatus, and wherein the first and second communication devices are external to each other; and

control communication of the apparatus in dependence upon the received information, wherein the received information comprises at least one of the following parameters;

performance parameter(s) for the second radio protocol, capacity parameter(s) for the second radio protocol, operational frequency parameter(s) for the second radio protocol and communication parameter(s) for the second radio protocol,

wherein a transceiver is configured to request information from the first communication device before communicating using a third protocol, and wherein the received information comprises an indicator when the second radio capability of the second communication device is active.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiver is configured to receive information via the first radio protocol directly from the first communication device concerning each of the radio protocols supported by the first communication device.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiver is configured to receive information separately, via the first radio protocol, from each of a plurality of further communication devices wherein the information received from a further communication device concerns radio protocols supported by that further communication device.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received information comprises parameters usable for creating a new communication link.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received information comprises parameters used for handing-over an existing communication channel from one radio protocol to another radio protocol.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received information comprises parameters used for changing how communications are routed within a network.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the received information comprises parameters for excluding the first communication device as an intermediary routing node for data traffic in a network.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the received information comprises parameters for maintaining the first communication device as an intermediary node for control traffic in the network.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control selection, in dependence upon the received information, of how a third radio protocol is used for communication.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control selection, in dependence upon the received information, of how the second radio protocol is used for communication.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control selection, in dependence upon the received information, of one of a plurality of radio protocols for communication.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control selection, in dependence upon the received information, of one of a plurality of usable frequencies of a radio protocol for communication.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the selection is based upon interference.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the selection involves choice of any one or more of:

a frequency band, transmission timing, a data rate, a latency for set-up and a transmission power level.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control communication of the communication device in dependence upon the received information after the opening of a new application.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first radio protocol is used as a control channel.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first radio protocol is a low power, short range radio protocol.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second radio protocol is a cellular telephone protocol.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the received information concerning at least a second radio protocol identifies the cellular telephone protocol downlink signal strength.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiver is configured to request information from the first communication device before communicating using a third protocol above a power threshold.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third protocol is an ultra-wideband protocol.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein a controller is configured to control the communication device to transmit according to the ultra-wideband protocol at a particular frequency and/or a particular power level.

3. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein a receiver is configured to receive information via the first radio protocol directly from the first communication device concerning radio protocols supported by each of a plurality of communication devices.

24. A method comprising:

receiving information at an apparatus via a first radio protocol directly from a first communication device concerning at least a second radio protocol capability of a second communication device, wherein the apparatus is external to the first and second communication devices, wherein the first and second communication devices are external to the apparatus, and wherein the first and second communication devices are external to each other; and

controlling communication of the communication device in dependence upon the received information, wherein the received information comprises at least one of the following parameters;

performance parameter(s) for the second radio protocol, capacity parameter(s) for the second radio protocol, operational frequency parameter(s) for the second radio protocol and communication parameter(s) for the second radio protocol,

wherein a transceiver is configured to request information from the first communication device before communicating using a third protocol, and wherein the received information comprises an indicator when the second radio capability of the second communication device is active.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer program instructions which when loaded into a processor enable the method of claim 24.